A group of Ohio State audiology students, staff, alumni and friends braved cold temps to Hustle for Hearing on Saturday night, April 25. For Lauren Ross, a fourth year audiology (AuD) student, this was her third Hustle for Hearing race; her first as event organizer.

“What I found most rewarding was to see all of the children with hearing loss and their families who came out to join us,” said Ross. “To know that they enjoyed the event as much as they did was just the icing on the cake.”

The Hustle For Hearing 5k race and 1 mile walk is put on each year by the Ohio State University Chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA). Each year SAA chooses to donate proceeds from Hustle For Hearing to organizations and programs which strive to improve the quality of life for individuals with hearing loss. This year, SAA chose to donate proceeds to campUS, a transition camp for teenagers with hearing loss and their families organized by Ohio State’s Speech-Hearing-Language Clinic.

From left to right: Katie Agee (AuD student), Caitlin Donovan (AuD student), Amanda Hagar (AuD student), Brittany Seiler (AuD student), Gail Whitelaw (director, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic), Ursula Findlen (audiology alumna), Kelsey Egelhoff (audiology alumna), Christina Roup (associate professor, speech and hearing science) and Chelsea Bates (AuD student)

Annie Antalovich, another AuD student, enjoys taking part in events that bring people together to support a common cause.

“What better way to support teenagers with hearing loss than with a glow run through Ohio State’s campus,” said Antalovich. “To have participation from students, faculty, professional audiologists and members of the community shows how committed we are to supporting young individuals with hearing loss.”

For AuD student Chelsea Bates, the Hustle for Hearing 5k is a great way for Ohio State’s graduate students to advocate for the audiology profession and raise awareness of hearing loss among young people.

“This opportunity allows community outreach and is overall a great and fun event,” said Bates. “I am so proud to be a part of a program that is beyond passionate about the profession of audiology!”

This year, SAA raised close to $4,500 for campUS, $1,000 more than they raised last year.

“I had so much positive feedback about the event,” said Ross.

For more information about campUS, contact Gail Whitelaw, director, Ohio State Speech-Language Hearing Clinic.

To donate to Hustle for Hearing, contact Lauren Ross at hustleforhearingosu@gmail.com